Rail joint shim



F. S. WONHAM RAIL JOINT SHIM F eb. 16, 1937.

Filed Feb. 15, 1935 2 She ets-Sheet 1 I INVENi'bR. Fred 3 won/121m.

BY 4 4 K M v ATTORNEY.

Feb. 16, 1937. F. s. WONHAM 2,071,151

' I RAIL JOINT SHIM Filed Feb. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I j 6/ INVENTOR. Fig'lg Fi'gcZO. 1 FredSMn/ram ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 16, 1937 RAIL JOINT SHIM Fred S. Wonham, New York, N. Y., assignor to The American Fork & Hoe Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 15, 1935, Serial No. 6,627

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rail joint constructions and particularly to improvements in the shims which are used to effect comtion comprising a pair of rail clamping side bars.

or so-called fish plates, wedgingly engaging the under sides of the rail heads and the upper sides of the rail flanges and clamped to the rails by bolts extending through aligned perforations in the vertical rail web and the joint bars.

Due to the continued passage of trains over the track, the engaging surfaces of the rail head and the joint bars become worn away and provide a tapering crevice intermediate the wedging surfaces of the joint bars and the under surfaces of the rail heads, the greatest wear occurring nearest the rail ends.

It is customary after such wear to place rail joint shims having a thin and in some cases a tapering, shimming portion, between the rail head under surface and the fish plate upper wedging surface, to compensate for the said wear on the plate and on the rail.

To resist wear, the shims themselves must be relatively hard but for this reason, tend to crack after continued use in the joint. As each wheel of a train rolls over the rail joint, the two adjacent ends of the rail are alternately depressed slightly. Thus there is a tendency for the shims to shear or break apart in the generally medial portion adjacent the rail ends and after continued use such shims do frequently crack or break at this point.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a rail joint shim of the class referred to havingmeans rendering the two halves of the shim under the two adjacent rail end heads of the joint yieldable relatively in the vertical direction to reduce or obviate the tendency of the shim to break.

Another object of the invention is to provide a one-piece or unitary shim of the class referred to constructed to resiliently yield under the alternate application of load to the adjacent rail ends of a joint in which the shim is used, to prevent or minimize the tendency of the shim to break.

Another object is to provide generally an improved railjoint shim of the class referred to.

Another object is to provide an improved rail joint shim of the class referred to which will be simple and cheap to construct and durablein use and convenient of installation in the joint.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rail joint with an embodiment of my invention therein;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the joint of Fig. 1 with a joint bar thereof removed for clarity;

Figs. 3 and 4 are front elevational and side elevational views, respectively, of another form of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a,perspective View of the embodiment of Fig. 3 illustrating a mode of operation thereof;

Figs. 6 and 7, Figs. 8 and 9, Figs. 10 and 11, Figs.

12 and 13, Figs. 14 and 15, are respectively front elevational and end elevational views of other modified embodiments of my invention;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a rail joint similar to Fig. 1 illustrating another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of the joint of Fig. 16 with a joint bar thereof removed for clary;

form illustrated in the joint of Figs. 16 and 17; Fig. 19 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 20 is a side elevational view of the form of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 and Fig. 22 are front elevational views generally similar to Fig. 19 but showing modifications of the form of Fig. 19. s

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a shim of the 2 Referring to the drawings, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a pair of rails I and 2 comprising each a head 3, a base 4 and a web 5. The two adjacent end portions of the rails, 2 and 3, are, conventionally, joined together by a pair of joint bars 6-5 (see Fig. 1) having inclined surfaces 'l-'l wedgingly engageable with corresponding inclined surfaces 88 on the under side of the rail head and having inclined flanges 99 Wedgingly engageable with the upper surfaces of the rail flange 4; the joint bars 6 being drawn into of the jointbars and rail heads; to compensate therefor, sheet metal shims 52-12 are placed between the joint bars and the rail heads.

The shim illustrated in the drawings, and in connection with which my invention will be explained, comprises a flange I 3 disposed between 55 the rail head and the joint bar to compensate for the wear, a flange-form body I4 supporting the flange I3 and disposed between the joint bar 6 and the web 5 and having an extension I5 projecting downwardly between two adjacent bolts IIi-I0, the shim being positioned longitudinally of the rail thereby, and the shim is provided with a notch I6 to give clearance to the head or fin which forms, by wear, on the joint bar between the two ends of the rail which in practice do not quite meet.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the shim I2, comprising generally the parts above described, has the body I4 perforated by a plurality of slots 66 having rounded ends, the slots extending longitudinally of the body I4. The lowermost slot may be in the extension I5. Preferably the slots are curved as illustrated. Above the slots is a generally inverted T-iorm perforation the stem of the T comprising the notch I6 and the cross of the T comprising a slot I'I; thus the uppermost slot I'I opens out into the notch I6.

Between the slots thus formed are bands I8I 8. The shim is thus in effect in two parts, a right and a left-hand part as viewed in Fig. 2 connected by the bands I8.

When this shim is installed in a rail joint as illustrated and when in use one rail end is depressed, one-half of the shim will yield relatively vertically and the resilience of the material of which the shim is made will permit repeated yielding without breaking. The two halves of the shim being connected by the bands I8, comprise in effect a one-piece shim and can be handled, transported, and assembled in and disassembled from a rail joint as a one-piece shim with the advantage attending thereon.

A modification generally similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2 is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Here a single slot i9 is used, providing a single band 20 adjacent the lower end of the extension I5, the notch I6 communicating with the slot by a vertical slot 2i. In Fig. 5 is illustrated, for the simple form of Figs. 3 and 4, the manner in which the band 28 bends when the two halves of the shim are displaced relatively vertically.

It will be observed that the band 20 is projected or bent inwardly; It may similarly be projected outwardly, the direction of bending depending upon the condition of the material adjacent to the band, the relative disposition of the two halves at the time of vertical displacement, etc. The band 23 warps and the material at opposite ends of the slot 23, as at 22 and 23, bend concavely inwardly. There will also be a slight twist in the band 20 which will be obvious but which is difficult to illustrate in the drawings. The amount of bend illustrated in Fig. 5 is exaggerated, for clearness.

The several bands I8 in the form of Figs. 1 and 2 will bend similarly to the band 23 above described for the form of Figs. 3 and 4 as will now be understood.

Preferably, in both forms the ends of the slots are rounded on relatively large radii of curvature to prevent concentration of bending at the ends of the slots.

In the form of Figs. 6 and '7, a shim similar to that of Figs. 3 and 4 is shown with the difference that the strap portions 20, 22, and 23 formed in Figs. 3 and 4 from the material of the shim prop-er, are in Figs. 6 and '7 replaced by strap portions 24, 25, and 26 formed from a separate yieldingly permitting piece of resilient material riveted or spot-welded as at 2'I2I to the lower end of the extension I5. In this case the slit 23 extends entirely through the shim. The operation of this form is generally the same as that of the form of Figs. 3 and 4 above described, the bend and warping all taking place in the resilient element.

In the form of shim illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, a shim is first formed generally like that of Figs. 3 and 4 and then the lower end of the extension I5 is bent over at an angle to form a flange 29. In this form, when the two halves of the shim are moved relatively vertically, the flange 29 will bend in its intermediate portions.

In the form of Figs. 10 and 11, a shim similar to that of Figs. 8 and9 is illustrated. In this form, spaced feet 30-430 are bent at an angle to the extension I5 and a separate piece of resilient material 3I is riveted or spot-welded as at 32 to the feet 30. The operation of this form is similar to'that of the form of Figs. 8 and 9, the bending taking place in the resilient element 33.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, the shim is made in two parts, right and left, 33 and 34. nected together by a metal strap 35 riveted as at 3636 to the two halves, the strap extending generally horizontally. A narrow slit 31 is provided between the two adjacent halves of the shim.

The strap 35 is riveted sufficiently tightly to the shim halves so that the shim may be handled as a one-piece shim, the strap riveting of the strap II normally holding the two halves in position as if rigidly connected or as if integral; but when the shim is installed in a joint, the relative vertical movement of the two rail end portions 33 and 34 during the passage of a train wheel over the joint, will be communicated to the two halves of the shim and they may move vertically, the joint comprising the strap 35 and therivets 36 such movement. The movement is in the nature of a hinging movement, each half of the shim being supported during the movement by its engagement between the surfaces I and 8 of the joint bar and rail head respectively.

Although this form of shim is in two distinct pieces, separated by the small slit 31, there is no liability that the two halves of the shim will, in use, creep or move so as to overlap one another, this being prevented by the strap'35, so that after the shim is installed it functions in this respect the same as a one-piece shim with the advantages above-mentioned.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, two halves, which may be similar to those illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, are joined together with a slit or space 38 therebetween by a plate 39 which is riveted or spot-welded as at 40 to one-half of the shim and has a vertical slot 4I therein, in which may slide vertically spaced headed studs 42-42 rigidly secured to the other shim half by spot-welding or riveting and having heads overlapping the slot M. In the operation of this form of shim, it will be apparent that the right-hand half may move vertically relative to the left-hand half and vice versa, the two halves of the shim being secured together so that it may be handled in transportation and installed as a one-piece shim, similarly to the other forms.

In Figs. 16 to 18 inclusive, I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in which the con- The two parts are connection between the two halves or portions of the shim is made exteriorly of the joint rather than interiorly as in the forms above described.

In this form the shim comprises two shim portions proper 45--45 for disposal between the rail 46 and joint bar 41 and depending body portions 48 having a two-part downward extension 49 disposable between two of the clamp bolts 5650. The shim portions and body portions are spaced apart by a slot 5| which at its upper end is widened out to provide the notch 52 for the purpose above referred to in connection with the other forms. Outwardly of the rail head and joint bar the two portions of the shim are joined by a band or loop 53, a slot 54 between the loop and the shim portions communicating withor opening into the notch 52.

When this shim is installed in a joint as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, relative vertical movement of the two shim portions 4545 is permitted by the resilient yielding of the loop 53. But during handling and transportation the loop will hold the two parts of the shim together as a one-piece unitary shim. The slot 54 and loop 53 may project laterally of the railsu The corners of the projecting portions may be rounded off as shown at 55-55. This form has the added advantage of providing the maximum length of resiliently bending loop for a given length of shim. In the form of my invention illustrated 1 Figs. 19 and 20, the shim proper is in two pieces each comprising a body 56 and a flange 51, and the two parts of the shim have parallel adjacently disposed edges 58--58 providing therebetween a space 59 havingthe function of the notch l6 referred to in the other forms.' Each body portion 56 has a depending lug 60 there-' on. An extension 6|, generally of U-form, has upstanding lugs Sid-6 la thereon riveted by rivets 62-62 to the lugs 6El-60.

The rivet connection thus provided may be suificiently tight or rigid to dispose the extension 6| and the two portions of the shim in unitary positions, i. e. in the same relative positions they would occupy if the shim were all in one piece; but the rivet connection, after the shim is installed in a rail joint, will yieldingly permit relative oscillatory movement of the shim portions and the extension to permit the shim portions to move relatively vertically in the manner and for the purposes described above.

In this form, as will be clear, the shims proper 565l may be made from hard steel to resist wear and the extension 6| may be of relatively cheaper material such for example as relatively soft sheet steel; and the relatively simple form of all three pieces of the unitary shim permits of their being cut from sheet metal with small loss in the form of scrap. Thus this form may be very economically produced.

In Fig. 19, the extension 6! is of a suitable width as viewed in the figure to be disposed between two adjacent bolts, such as the bolts lil-l,il of Fig. 2. In Figs. 21 and 22, however, is illustrated this form of the invention with extensions 63 and 64 respectively, narrower and wider than the extension 6! of Fig. 19 to position the unitary shim between bolts which may be closer together or farther apart than those for the form of Fig. 19. r The body portions of the shim, 56-51, of the forms of Figs. 19 to 22 inclusive may be made in quantities and the extension whether it be the extension 6| or one of the extensions 63-64 maybe secured thereto at the time of assembling, so that for one form of shim proper 565l, a number of different sizes of complete unitary shims may be made.

In all of the forms above described, the two halves of the shim are connected or secured together in a manner to permit the shim to be handled and assembled as a one-piece shim, although after being installed the two halves of the shim may have relative movement vertically whereby the cracking which results from continued use of the conventional one-piece shim is entirely prevented. In some of the modifications illustrated the unitary shim is generally in the form of two shim halves connected by a loop of resilient material. If desired, the two halves or portions of the unitary shim may be provided with means insuring that the two halves will not overlap each other in operation after being installed in a rail joint; and to this end, lips 43--43 may be pressed in the sheet metal of the shim, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, confronting each other at the slit 44 therein and disposed in stag gered relation whereby one lip will partly overlap the other lip or whereby the lip on one shim half may overlap the adjacent edge of the other half. The lips provide, in effect, a thickened portion whereat the tendency of one shim portion to overlap the other is obviated. While such lips have been shown only in the form of Figs. 8 and 9, this is merely illustrative and such lips or like means may be provided in the other forms although not illustrated in connection therewith. And whereas the lips 43-43 are shown I on opposite faces of the two shims respectively,

they may both be on similar faces of the two shim halves respectively; or both lips may be on one shim half.

If desirable, the lower central portions of the shims of Figs. 2 and 5, as well as the outer portion 53 of Fig. 18, may be annealed or otherwise heat treated to facilitate forming of the transversely bendable bands in these portions and to insure a suitable quality of resiliency and durability therein; and similarly annealing or otherwise heat treating the shims of the other forms illustrated may be practiced to provide a desired diiterent hardness and resilient quality in different parts of the shim such as for example the parts 35 and 44 of Figs. 12 and 14 and the parts 29 and of Figs. 8 and 10, as distinguished from the shim portion proper, I3, 45 or 56.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described. Although several different forms have been illustrated and described, changes and modifications may be made and other forms of shim provided without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A unitary shim device comprising two substantially longitudinally alignable shim elements, each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements to permit installa tion and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in proper longitudinally spaced relation to each other and facilitating maintaining said elements in a desired longitudinal alignment during such operations, said interconnecting means being yieldable responsive to movements of said rail ends responsive to trafiic conditions without impairment of the connection between said elements, and vertically disposed portions of the shim elements being relatively movable in a substantially vertical plane.

2. A unitary shim device comprising two substantially longitudinally alignable shim elements, each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements to permit installation and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in proper longitudinally spaced relation to each other and facilitating maintaining said elements in a desired longitudinal alignment during such operations, said interconnecting means comprising a resilient portion resiliently yieldable responsive to movements of said rail ends responsive to traffic conditions without impairment of the connection between said elements, and vertically disposed portions of said shim elements being relatively movable in a vertical plane.

3. A unitary shim device comprising two substantially longitudinally alignable shim elements, each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail,

ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements to permit installation and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in proper longitudinally spaced relation to each other and facilitating maintaining said elements in a desired longitudinal alignment during such operations, said interconnecting means comprising a hinge interconnecting portion yieldably responsive to movements of said rail ends responsive to traffic conditions without impairment of the connection between said elements.

4. A unitary shim device comprising two substantially longitudinally alignable shim elements, each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements to permit installa-' tion and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in proper longitudinally spaced relation to each other and facilitating maintaining said elements in a desired longitudinal alignment during such operations, said interconnecting means comprising an elongated strap integrally secured at its two ends to longitudinally remote portions of said shim elements and being yieldable responsive to movements of said rail ends under traffic conditions without impairment of the connection between said elements, said shim elements being unconnected other than by said strap.

5. A unitary shim device comprising two substantially longitudinally alignable shim elements, each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements to permit installation and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in proper longitudinally spaced relation to each other and facilitating maintaining said elements in a desired longitudinal alignment during such operations, said interconnecting means comprising a flattened resilient strap lying in a plane substantially at an angle to the plane of movement of said rail ends and being yieldable responsive to movements of said rail ends under traffic conditions without impairment of the connection between said elements, said shim elements being unconnected other than by said strap.

6. A unitary shim device comprising two substantially longitudinally alignable shim elements formed-from wear-resisting metal material, each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear 'of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements to permit installation and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in proper longitudinally spaced relation to each other and facilitating maintaining said elements in a desired longitudinal alignment during such operations, said interconnecting means comprising an interconnecting element formed from different metal material hingingly connected at longitudinally spaced points to both of said shim elements and the hinge connection being yieldableresponsive to movement of said rail ends responsive to traffic conditions without impairment of the hinging connection.

'7. A unitary shim device comprising two substantially longitudinally alignable shim elements formed from wear-resisting metal material, each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements topermit installation and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in proper longitudinally spaced relation to each other and facilitating maintaining said elements in a desired longitudinal alignment during such operations, said interconnecting means comprising an interconnecting element formed from different metal material hingingly connected at longitudinally spaced points to both of said shim elements and the hinge connection being yieldable responsive to movement of said rail ends responsive to trafiic conditions without impairment of the hinging connection and the interconnecting element having longitudinally spaced abutment portions for disposal between adjacent rail joint bolts to longitudinally position the unitary shim device in a joint.

8. A unitary shim device comprising two shim elements each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for Wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements and disposing said elements in longitudinal alignment substantially in the same relative positions as when placed between said fishing surfaces and disposing them with longitudinal end edges thereof spaced apart and in adjacent mutually confronting relation, to permit'installation and ieniova-l of both said elements as a unit in and from said 'joint While maintaining them in said relation to each other, said interconnecting means being yieldable to permit relative movement of said, shim elements with said rail ends responsive to traffic conditions on the rails without impairment of the said interconnection of said elements.

9.. A unitary shim device comprising two shim elements each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements and disposing said elements in longitudinal alignment substantially in the same relative positions as when placed between said fishing surfaces and disposing them with longitudinal end edges thereof spaced apart and in adjacent mutually confronting relation, to permit installation and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in said relation to each other, said interconnecting means comprising a resilient portion integral with said shim elements resiliently yieldable to permit relative movement of said shim elements with said rail ends responsive to traffic conditions on the rails without impairment of the said interconnection of said elements.

10. A unitary shim device comprising two shim elements each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements and disposing said elements in longitudinal alignment substantially in the same relative positions as when placed between said fishing surfaces and disposingthem with longitudinal end edges thereof spaced apart and in adjacent mutually confronting relation, to permit installation and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in said relation to each other, said interconnecting means comprising a resilient portion resiliently yieldable to permit relative movement of said shim elements with said rail ends responsive to traffic conditions on the rails without impairment of the said interconnection of said elements.

11. A unitary shim device comprising two shim elements each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements and disposing said elements in longitudinal alignment substantially in the same relative positions as when placed between said fishing surfaces and disposing them with longitudinal end edges thereof spaced apart and in adjacent mutually confrontin relation, to permit installation and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in said relation to each other, said interconnecting means comprising means hingingly connecting the said shim elements together and the said hinge connection being yieldable to permit relative movement of said shim elements with said rail ends responsive to traffic conditions on the rails without impairment of the said interconnection of said elements.

12. A unitary shim device comprising two shim sate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements and disposing said elements in longitudinal alignment substantially in the same relative positions as when placed betweensaid fishing surfaces and disposing them with longitudinal end edges thereof spaced apart and in adjacent mutually confronting relation, to permit installation and removal of both said elements as a 'unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in said relation to each other, said interconnecting means comprising an elongated strap rigidly secured at opposite end portions to longitudinally spaced portions of the said shim elements and being yieldable to permit relative movement of said shim elements with said rail ends responsive to trafiic conditions on the rails without impairment of the said interconnection of said elements.

13. A unitary shim device comprising two shim elements each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements and disposing said elements in longitudinal alignment substantially in the same relative positions as when placed between said fishing surfaces and disposing them with longitudinal end edges thereof spaced apart and in adjacent mutually confront ing relation, to permit installation and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said joint while maintaining them in said relation to each other, said interconnecting means comprising a resilient strap lying in a plane at an angle to the plane of movement of the said rail ends and being yieldable to permit relative movement of said shim elements with said rail ends responsive to traffic conditions on the rails without impairment of the said interconnection of said elements.

14. A unitary shim device comprising two shim elements each of which is adapted to underlie one of each of the two rail ends of a rail joint and to be disposed between the fishing surfaces of said rail ends and the rail joint bar to compensate for wear of said surfaces, and comprising means interconnecting said elements and disposing said elements in longitudinal alignment substantially in the same relative positions as when placed between said fishing surfaces and l disposing them with longitudinal end edges thereof spaced apart and in adjacent mutually confronting relation, to permit installation and removal of both said elements as a unit in and from said jointwhile maintaining them in said relation to each other, said interconnecting means comprising an element having'a rivet and slot connection with the said shim elements, the slots extending in directions at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the said shim elements, the

said connection being a loose connection and thereby being rendered yieldable to permit relative movement of said shim elements with said rail ends responsive to trafiic conditions on the rails without impairment of the said interconnection of said elements.

15. A one-piece metal rail joint shim comprising a pair of sheet metal shim portions longitudinally aligned and adapted to be interposed respectively between the fishing surfaces ofa erally longitudinally extending strip adjacent the said longitudinal edge, the T-slot stem portion extending from the cross slot portion transversely entirely across the shim portions and separating the said aligned shim portions, the strip being resiliently yieldable and permitting relative transverse movement of said aligned shim portions.

' FRED S. WONHAM. 

